The YOU.FO Ringcross World Federation recently hosted an outstanding You. Fo International event in Ya'an, China, under the patronage of TAFISA. Bringing together 56 teams from around the world, the event successfully combined a World Cup competition with a friendly international tournament, showcasing the sport's growing global appeal.
TAFISA Vice-President Europe Jacqueline Kronenburg, who played a key role in establishing the partnership between TAFISA and the YOU.FO Ringcross World Federation, attended as a Guest of Honour. TAFISA Board Member Wanshik Hong was also present at the event.
The tournament attracted great public attention. The opening ceremony alone generated more than 100 million views across Chinese national television and social media platforms-a remarkable achievement for You.Fo Ringcross.
The sport YouFo RingCross is increasingly being adopted in schools and communities, where mixed-age and mixed-gender teams enjoy it as a recreational activity. At the same time, it offers plenty of strategic depth and technical skill for competitive play. In Ya'an, teams included both newcomers to the sport and experienced student athletes who train almost every day.
In the words of Bas Ruijssenaars, president of the sports federation and inventor of the game:
"Fifteen years ago, I had a crazy idea.
What if a simple ring, a pair of specially designed sticks and a lot of imagination could become a completely new sport?
Many smiled politely. Some thought I was crazy. Others said it couldn't be done.
Today, that dream is alive.
Looking around the arena, I realised this was far more than a World Cup. It proved that sport truly speaks a universal language. Young people competed fiercely, respected one another and built friendships across cultures and borders.
That is why I started YOU.FO: not simply to invent another sport, but to create a movement built on three values: Fun. Friendship. Fair Play."
In addition to President Bas Ruyssenaars and Vice President Giel Bos from YOU.FO Ringcross, the organising committee comprised a strong consortium of Chinese partners: the Ya'an Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Sports and Tourism; the Sichuan Sports Industry Federation, Ya'an Xin'ao Sports Development and, last but not least, Happy Sports China. The latter is also a valued TAFISA partner in developing Active Cities initiatives and engaging Chinese cities in TAFISA programmes and events.
The You.Fo Ringcross World Cup also provided an excellent opportunity for VP Jacqueline Kronenburg to engage further with cities such as Chengdu (over 15 million inhabitants) and Ya'an (1.5 million inhabitants) regarding their sporting ambitions for their cities. In her speeches at the welcome dinner and the closing ceremony, Jacqueline emphasised TAFISA's role in promoting sport and physical activity worldwide. She also highlighted the importance of continuing to invest in the foundations of sport and play in schools and local communities. The warm, family-like atmosphere throughout the event reflected the spirit that defines TAFISA's global network of member organisations.
Another significant milestone was celebrated during the World Cup: ten years of sports innovation collaboration between China and the Netherlands. To commemorate the partnership, an eleventh Cruyff Court was officially opened within an interactive We Sport Park in Ya'an.
Building on the success of this event, TAFISA looks forward to further advancing its mission of "A Better World Through Sport for All" in China. Together with Chinese cities, partners and member organisations, TAFISA aims to continue strengthening international cooperation through knowledge exchange, innovative programmes and future sporting events.
